About the Author

Russ Helgesen was born in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1920. His Norwegian heritage was an important part of his upbringing. He and his wife, Lorraine, were both the second generation to be born in America. Being that the Midwest is a very Scandinavian area of the country, perhaps it is not so unusual that, as it turns out, Lorraine’s ancestors lived only about 20 miles from Russ’s ancestors in Norway!

Russ, a retired Lutheran pastor, lives at York Gardens, Edina, MN, a facility that he envisioned when he was president of 7500 York Cooperative and saw through to completion. He captured that story in his second book, York Gardens: A Dream Fulfilled.

At the age of 95, he has outlived all of his Helgesen ancestors and relatives.

Russ enjoys golf, stained glass work, leading Bible study, and spending time with his his five children, twelve grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.